Amsterdam...right into hell and back!

Grachten, van Gogh, ... - characteristicS of a devastating city for a want-to-remain"-single. With my reputation as a most unromantic person, yet passionate traveller it is my duty to warn my fellow single-brothers about one of the major pitfalls in European city landscape: Amsterdam.

However good its reputation might be for single traveller that seek to avoid human contact (labels such as "misanthrop heaven" or "come together - leave alone") - this appears just to be a huge hoax, probably circulated by toursim industry.

I myself fell for this blunder, when springtime, awoke my hormons, arising a terrible need for contact with the other gender. Amsterdam seemed to be the right place for cure in a weekend - being for unromantic men what a climatic spa is for the bronchitis-sick.

To my defense I have to add, that the prospects looked good in the first place! with its reputation of a safe mile for drug addicts, heaven for agressive-gays, terrible traffic and the legendary dutch dullness it appeared to be THE place to kill all romantic emotions in an instant.

So great the hope, so deep the fall into the shadows of physical attraction and romantic ambience. If you are looking for quiteness, inter-human dislike and unscenic spots, this is exactly the wrong place to go!

The romantic Grachten, scenic spots in ancient city center, stimulating red-light-district, comfortaBle coffeshops are all a nightmare for the emotional-peace seeking. Unique museums (who likes van Gogh anyway?) and one of the world's most renowned concert halls leaves no éscape, even if the subtle ray of hope of unappealingness occurs!

True, this could have been avoided by thoroughly preparing and studying the trip. Then, the following statistical information could have been revealed beforehand, based on a survey among young Europeans aged 26 to 32 (sample 100.000):

• 76% feel that cultural features like the Concertgebouw and van Gogh museum double the romantic experience
  
• 92% consider Amsterdam as the world capital of sweet dishes, sweets and chocolate.
• 37% of questionned people had there first kiss with a partner in Amsterdam
• 62% regret not to have had their first kiss in Amsterdam
• 72% consider to having spent one of their most romantic weekends in Amsterdam
• 100% would never give away this memory and instead stay at home for a weekend, for example in a Spanish city.

Yes, the inclined reader might now think "idiot, preparation is everything, you learned your lesson" - right. But still, have mercy with your judgement, cause I went right into hell and back!

A. Nónimo